not be caught dead

beat a dead horse

To persist or continue far beyond any purpose, interest or reason.

Brown bread

[Cockney slang]dead

caught short

unprepared or without enough of something when it is needed

caught up

Involuntarily involved in a situation.

caught with one's pants down

Caught off guard, unprepared, or in an embarrassing situation.

come back from the dead

To experience a resurgence after one's productive years are assumed to have ended.

dead 'n' buried

Contraction of dead and buried.

dead air

An unintended interruption in a broadcast during which nothing is transmitted: a silent period on radio or a silent period with no picture on television.